Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Gyeongju, South Korea, on the sidelines of the APEC Summit — marking their first in-person talks since both leaders took office. The meeting, initially scheduled for 20 minutes, extended to 45, with both sides describing the atmosphere as cordial and constructive.
According to officials, the two leaders agreed on the importance of strengthening bilateral relations amid growing regional and global security challenges. Prime Minister Takaichi acknowledged that Japan and South Korea “hold differing perspectives” on several unresolved issues but emphasized the need to manage them responsibly as neighboring countries.
Both leaders committed to pursuing “shuttle diplomacy,” a framework that envisions more frequent reciprocal visits between Tokyo and Seoul. Takaichi said Japan would likely host the next round of high-level talks to continue building trust and cooperation.
The meeting followed Takaichi’s summit earlier in the week with U.S. President Donald Trump, underscoring the strategic coordination among Tokyo, Seoul, and Washington as tensions in the Indo-Pacific persist.
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